Vent for garment cleaning systems



March 19, 1935. R, HETZER VENT FOR GARMENT CLEANING SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 3, 1951 INVENTOR QNN filling the treating compartment 1, the treating medium will drain from the storagetank 2 until it has reached a level just slightly below the point of connection of the branch 5 with the v,

branch 6. At this point, the siphon effect will be broken and the flow of the treating medium will stop. Thus the level of the contents of the storage tank 2 can never therefore drop to the point of the opening of the branch 5 and Water or moisture floating on the surface of the treating medium will not be drained into the treating compartment, A conduit '7 leads from the bottomof the treating compartment 1 to a sump tank 8 located below the compartment and is provided with a valve 9'for controlling thefiow of treating medium from a treating compartment to the sump tank. Filter means 10 are provided at the delivery endof the conduit [through which the medium passing from the treating compartment into the sump tank must necessarily-flow. This provides a means for catching and retaining any particles of foreign matter above a given size.

The used treating mediumisrenovated .by drawing the used treating medium from the sump tank 8 through a conduit 11 under the control of a valve 12 by meansof a pump 13 and forcing-the used medium into an evaporator .14 from which the vaporized treating medium passes to a condenser 15 by way of a conduit 16. The condenser 15 is provided with conduits 15a. for passing a suitable cooling medium through the condenser. The condensed liquid or treating medium is then delivered to a point adjacent the bottom of the storage tank 2 by way of a conduit '17 and a water or other filter 18. An auxiliary evaporator 19' having operative connection with the evaporator- 14 and condenser 15 is provided to operate in conjunction with the evaporator 14 for evaporating any treating medium not; vaporized by the evaporator 14 and for vaporizing any treating medium in the sludge that deposits in the bottom ofthe evaportor 14. r I i a In addition to the hereinbefore described apparatus forirecirculating. and renovating the treating medium, suitableapparatus is provided for deodorizing and drying the fabric in the treating compartment as a partof the treating opera-- denser 20 serving to reclaim any treating mediumcarried away from the fabric by the circulation of air therethrough.

'In accordance with my invention, a suitable means is provided in combination with'the above described apparatus for subjecting the treating medium laden air'normallyvented from the apparatus to a washing process for removing the treating medium therefrom. This means comprises a receptacle or tank 26 together with a novel arrangement of venting conduits leading from the various parts of the apparatus to the tank or receptacle 26 where the air is subjected to the washing operation and from which it is vented'tothe atmosphere. The tank or receptacle 26 is adapted to contain 'a supply of liquid 27, for instance, water, which forms the air washing medium.

In the vent pipe arrangement, a conduit 28 leads from the sump tank 8 and from a point above'theliquid therein to the interior of the tank or receptacle 26, the conduit 28 terminating in a T-connection one end 30 of which extends to a point above the liquid in the receptacle or tank and the other end 31 of which extends to a point just above the bottom of the receptacle or 35 therein leads fromv the j'oinder. of the conduits 32. and 33 to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank or receptacle 26. This conduit 34 has a connection with the storage tank 2 by way of a conduit 36. Suitable vacuum breakers 37 and 38 are provided in this system of vent conduits for relieving vacuum conditions within any part of the apparatus. A conduit 39 leads from the top of the tank or receptacle 26 to the atmosphere.

In the operation of this' part of the apparatus and after the solvent indicated by the numeral 40 accumulates in the tank or receptacle 26 due to a condensing action, the combined level of liquid and solvent tends to rise above the point atwhich theconduit 28 connects with theT- connection within the tank or receptacle. Then, assuming the conduit 28 to be open, when the level of the combined liquid and solvent rises to a sufficient extent above the T-connection, the solvent 40 flows out of the receptacle from the lower end 31 of the branch into the conduit 28 and thence'into the sump tank 8 under pressure of the head of liquid in the receptacle 26 until the level of solvent in the T-connection drops belowthe point at which the conduit 28 communicates therewith. The siphon effect is then overcome by the admission of air through the open branch-30and no further liquid flows. In this way, washing liquid can never'be drawn through the conduit 28 and delivered to the sump tank. The headof washingliquid'in'the receptacle is just enough to maintain a given amount of solvent 40 within the receptacle and to prevent the removal of anything but the pure solvent 40 or treating medium which is formed by condensation of vaporinthe saturated air venting from the apparatus through the tank or receptacle and which accumulates in the bottom thereof in the form of substantially pure solvent or treating medium which in this instance is heavier than the washing liquid.-

The valve 29 may be placed in the conduit 28 to control the flow of the solvent from the receptacle 26 to the sump tank 8. In this case the attention of the operator is required. When the contents of the receptacle has risen to a point just below the upper end 30 of the branch pipe in the receptacle, the operator must open the valve and allow the contents todrain into the sump tank.

As above stated the level within the branch pipe will drop until it has reached'a point below the T'-connection and'the fiow of solvent 40 will then stop. The operator will then close the valve 29.

given amount of liquid 27- in the receptacle it, may

he. provided with. a sight glass 2711 or other means' for indicating the leveL of. the combinedliquid and. treating medium.

the treating medium or solvent; for a washing operation is admitted, to the treating-compartment 1 from the storage tank 2, the air which.

this treating medium or solvent displaces inthe treating compartment .1 has become vapor laden and some of this vaponwhich willnotall be con. densed in the condenser20, passes with: the air upwardly through the condenser 20' intothe conduit 32 past check va1ve 35 through conduit 36 into the storage tank 2,. thus'equalizing the pressurein the storage tank. Should a condition exist, where the pressure in the conduits 32,. 34

and 36 is greater than isrequired to equalize pressure in the storage tank 2,7such additional; vapor laden air will be conducted to the recep-;

table 26, the valve 29 being closed, where it will bubble up through the liquid 27, and thevapor;v

contained therein will be condensed and collect at the bottom in the form of theipure solvent 40. Theair will pass outat thetop of the receptacle through conduit 39 to the atmosphere.

Similarly when the treating medium is drained from the treating compartment 1 into-the sump tank 8, the quantity thus drained displaces the quantity of air in the sump tank which is saturated with a solvent vapor and which passes upwardly through the conduit 33' through the conduit 32 into the condenser 20 thence-downwardly into, the treating compartment 1 to equalize the vacuum condition which was effected by the draining ofthe solvent.

As'in the former case, should an excess pressure, condition exist, that excess pressure is relieved by passage of the vapor ladenair through the conduit 34, the valve 29 being closed, past,

the check valve into the-receptacle 26 wherein the vapor is removed by the liquid 27 and the free air passes to the atmosphere.

When the treating solvent is pumped from the sump tank to the evaporator 14 for the purpose of renovation, a quantity of which is vapor laden due to its contactwith; the solvent and part of .which is non-condensable in the condenser 15, passes upwardly tothe-conduit .16 through the condenser 15 downwardly through the conduit 17. into the storagetank 2 thence bubbling up. through the contents ofthe storage tank passes through conduit 36 through conduit 34 into the receptacle 26 where the vapor is removed by the liquid 27 and the free air passesinto-the atmosphere. The passage. of. the. vapor laden air from the conduit-36 toward the conduit32 is prevented by the check valve 35. g 7

During the renovation process the hot vapor passes'from the evaporator 14 into thecondenser 15 where the vaporsqare, condensed andthe now pure solvent drainsinto the storage tank 2. The

vapor laden air which is displaced inthe storagetank 2 passes upwardly through the conduit 36 thence through conduit 34 to the receptacle 26 where the vapors are removed-as before stated and the freeair passes to the atmosphere. Again in this case the vapor laden air from the conduit 36 is prevented from passing into the conduit 32 by the check valve 35.

Referring to Figure 2, I have shown the modified form of my invention wherein the washing apparatus hereinbefore described is provided with a spray device or atomizer for delivering the air 3,a washing, liquid at the top: of the tank, or. receptacle 26. In this arrangement, a conduit 41. connected to the tank or'receptacle- 26. and ex:-

tends into the liquid 27, the, point of entrance of:

, the conduitbeing at such a height that; it Will at During the operation of this apparatus, when,

Otherwise the air washing,apparatus is; the same.

as that hereinbefore described.

With the above construction I have provided: a venting arrangement in combination with apparatus for treating fabrics and-renovating the used treating medium whereby it. may be em;- ployed over and over again, which venting; 3,1:

rangement tends to equalize the vapor-pressure.

throughout the system and which in the, case of the development of excessivev pressure 0011-;

ducts the vapor laden air through a washingprocess which removes the vapor and allowsonly free air to pass into the atmosphere;

I have provided a means to prevent formation of vacuum at any point in the system. In this I connection the: vacuum breakers 37 and 38 of; the

type to admit air to the system but ineffective as pressure release means are so: set that at the end.

of the day when the system has cooled downand there is a tendency to produce a vacuum, the contents of the receptacle 2 6, will not be drawn :upwardly through the conduit 34 into the system; One advantage of such an apparatus results in the immense saving in treating medium: that would otherwise pass to: the atmosphere and betotally lost. Various other advantageous; fea-' tures will be readily apparent.

What I claim is:

1. ,In an apparatus of the class described, a: liquid seal vent, including a-liquid seal receptacle, 2, condensing liquid in said receptacle lighter than the detergent liquid, means for draining the-detergent liquid from said receptacle fromv a low point; a vent pipe having its delivery end. terminatingbelow the level of said condensing liquid-,arr open vent from said receptacle to the atmosphere, and

means for continuously removing the condensingliquid from, said receptacle and re-delivering it thereto in the form of a spray through which.v

vented air must pass. afterpassagethrough ther body of said condensing liquid.

2. A liquid seal vent for tanks or systemscin;

which a volatile solvent isbeing stored or utilized comprising a receptacle, adetergent; condensing liquid in said receptacle for removing detergent from vented gases, said liquid beinglightertham the liquid detergent, whereby detergent condens sate passes to the bottom of said containenmeans;

for draining the detergent condensatezfrom said receptacle, a vent pipe leading. from the tanker system to said receptacle and terminating'belowthe level of the condensing liquid therein, an open-vent from said receptacle to the atmosphere; and means for continuously removing condensing.

liquid. from the receptacle and re-delivering; it thereto in the form of a spray through which, vented gases must'pass after passingythroughtha body of said condensing liquid.

3. In an apparatus, of., the class described,

compartment containing a volatile detergent, means for closing said compartment against free communication with the atmosphere while providing a pressure release vent therefor, comprising a receptacle, a detergent condensing liquid in coi said receptacle for removing detergent from vented gases, said liquid being lighter than the liquid detergent whereby detergent condensate passes to the bottom of said container, means for draining the detergent condensate from said receptacle, a vent pipe leading from said treating compartment to said receptacle and terminating below the level of the condensingliquid therein, the said detergent drain means being arranged to maintain liquid in the container below a predetermined level and provide for an open space between the top of such' liquid and the upper side of the receptacle, a vent pipe leading from such space to the'atmosphere, and means for continuously removing the condensing liquid from said receptacle and re-delivering it thereto in the form of a spray through which vented gases must passafter passing through the body of such condensing liquid.

4. A liquid seal vent comprising a receptacle for liquid, a drain from said receptacle communicating therewith at a low point, an arm on said drain opening into said receptacle at a point permanently above the level of liquid therein, said arm communicating with said drain at a point above that at which the drain communicates with the receptaclepthe point at which the arm communicates'with saidfdrain being such that the new of liquid ceases when the level of liquid falls below said point, a vent pipe adapted to deliver vapor to said receptacle below the level of liquid therein, and an open vent from said receptacle to the atmosphere.

5 A liquid seal for tanks orsystems in which a volatile solvent is being stored or utilized comprising a receptacle containing a-condensing liquid having a lower specific gravityand in which the volatile solvent is not more than slightly soluble, a vent in the upper portion of said receptacle, aconduit leading from the tank or system and terminating below the condensing liquid in the receptacle whereby the volatile solvent will be condensed and will form a layer below the condensing liquid and the air will escape to the atmosphere, and means for conducting the condensed solvent back to the tank or system after a predetermined amount has collected in said receptacle.

"61A liquid seal for tanks or systems in which carbon tetrachloride is being stored or utilized comprising a receptacle containing water, a vent in the upper portion of-said receptacle, a conduit leading from the tank or system and terminating below said liquid, whereby condensed carbon tetrachloride -will settle'below the water and air will escape to the atmosphereand means for conducting condensed liquid back to the tank or system after a predetermined. amount has collected in said receptacle.

"7. A liquid seal for tanks or systems in which a volatile solvent is being-stored or utilized comprising a receptacle containing a condensing liquid having a lower specific gravity and in which the volatile solvent is not more than slightly soluble, a vent in the upper portion of said receptacle and a conduit leading from the tanker system and terminating below said liquid, whereby volatile solvent vapors escaping from the tank or system will be condensed and will settle beneath the liquid in the receptacle and the air will escape-to the atmosphere, means for conducting solvent back tosaid tank or system'when a predetermined amount has collected in said receptacle, and automaticmeans for terminating the flow when the solvent has fallen to a predetermined level. I

8. A liquid seal for tanks or systems in which a volatile solvent is stored or utilized comprising a receptacle containing a condensing liquid having a lower specific gravity than the solvent and in which the volatile solvent is not more than slightly soluble, a vent in the upper portion of said receptacle, a conduit leading from the tank or system and terminating below the liquid in the receptacle, whereby volatile solvent vapors escaping from said tank or system will be condensed and will settle below the liquid in said receptacle, and means for conducting the condensed solvent back to the tank orsyst em comprising a conduit having a vertical connection extending in said receptacle one end of which terminates near the bottom of said receptacle 'and the other end of which terminates above the condensing liquid in the receptacle.

9. A liquid seal for cleansing systems in which carbontetrachloride is employed as the solvent comprising a receptacle containing water, a vent in the'upper part of the receptacle, a conduit through whichcarbon tetrachloride vapors may be passed below the water in the receptacle, thereby'providing means for condensing the vapors and forming a layer of carbon tetrachloride beneath the water, and a conduit having a T-connection extending vertically in said receptacle,

one end of which terminates i'nthe layer of con- :1. densed carbon tetrachloride and the otherend of which extends above the water thereby providing automatic means for causing carbon tetrachloride to flow into the conduit leading back tothe system when a predetermined amount accumulates in the receptacle and automatically causing a termination of the flow of the carbon tetrachloride when it falls to 'apredetermined level. i

10. A liquid seal for cleansing systems in which carbon tetrachloride is employed as a solvent comprising arece'ptacle containing water, a vent ride to flow into the conduit leading back to the system when a predetermined amount accumulates in the receptacle and automatically causing a termination of the flow of the carbon'tetrachloride when it falls'to a predetermined level, and means for conducting water from the lower portion of the receptacle and spraying it in th path of the air leaving the receptacle.

RUSSELL A. HETZER. 

